A new survey has revealed that the overwhelming majority of London’s university students feel overwhelmed by the cost-of-living crisis.
The study, conducted by Visa, found that 84 per cent of London students enrolled in higher education “felt ‘overwhelmed’ by managing their money.”
Additional research led by the 2025 National Student Money Survey found the average London student burns through £1,269 per month on basic necessities such as rent, food, and utility bills.
This September, domestic tuition fees for undergraduate courses also increased for the first time in eight years, rising from £9,250 to £9,535.
A further financial stressor for uni students is the price of travel in the capital. After a fare increase earlier this year, Transport for London (TfL) was officially named the world’s most expensive public transport network. A single, one-way tube journey within one zone now costs almost £3.
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University of East London (UEL) student Thomas Murch is one of many concerned about the cost of living. Working alongside the Student Money Advice and Rights Team (SMART), Murch advises fellow students on how to best manage their funds, helping them with student finance applications, applying for bursaries, and enhancing their career development.
Over 75 per cent of UEL students come from underprivileged backgrounds. The uni, comprised of three campuses spread across Stratford and Docklands, has previously been ranked as “the UK’s most accessible university for low-income groups.”
Thomas said: “The cost of living has increased a lot, so doing the things I would normally do requires more money, and it’s very hard for me to balance the wants with the needs.”
Olivia Tyson, a final year fashion design student at the University of Westminster, said the cost of living crisis “is absolutely unbearable, especially coming from a working-class background.
“I know people who have to work 40 hours a week while also enrolled on a full-time uni course.”
A 2025 study by the Higher Education Policy Institute (HEPI) found nearly 70 per cent of full-time students work during the academic year, up from 55 per cent in 2023.
Featured image via Unsplash
